New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-11-04
A VISIT To TULLAMORE JAIL.
FRIENDS NOT ALLOWED TO SEE OBRIEN.
WHAT THE PRISON Is ILkE-MR. BALFOURS THREAT
NOT YET CARRIED OUT.
BY CABLE TIE IRIBUNEl
Copyright 1887 By The Tew. York Tribune.

justices, who have the right to enter the prison AT
any time. is the Mayor and he is an avowed
friend of William O'Brien. who publicly announced
that he would be there to see and would report
to the world if any foul play were done In such
n jail Mr. Balfour had not the courage 10 carry
out his threat, so he brought his prisoner here.
where if there be Jail in Ireland in which
foul deed can be done in the dark, this is surely
the one. Not single official is friend. On the
contrary, every one of the visiting justiccs-that
committee which supcrintcnds the working of the
iail-belongs to the ranks Of Mr.. OBriens enc
mics They are to a man andlords or agents One
of them manages property on which the ran
of Campaign has been adopted another. lahd-
lord, is grandson Of Lord Norburv. the infamous
hanging judge who sentenced Robert Emmett;
third, also landlord, is father of the prison
doctor an official who, when asked if he will tell
what occurs when they try to force the prison
dress on William OI}rien. replies that he is
sworn 10 absolute secrecy as 10 everything that
occurs within the prison walls.
The Governor, a thick set common-lo looking man
with cast in his eye, is simply dull human
machine that will do what its master bids it.
with more feeling way the other than
the handouts that clasp his prisoners wrists.
We srollc to him to-day in the vestibulc of his
jail He could give information whatsoever
about Mr.. O'Brien. Had it yet been decided to
put Mr.. O'Brien in prison clothes? lie could
tell ncthinS. Could we see Mr. OBricn? Oh, no.
Mr. OIrien was to he allowed no visitors for the
three months. Would he give letter TO him
which he, the governor, might read himself first?
No Mr.. O'Bricn was to receive no letters either,
during his Imprisonment. Would he tell him we
called ? Well. they might say friends called, but
he not permitted to say who they were
The question on which every friend Of Mr..
OBrien is hanging with anxiety is whether Nr
Bafour is going carry out his vaunt that he
would treat political prisoners exactly like com
mon criminals Mr.. OI5ricn has challenged him
to do so, and has declared that whatever be the
consequences he will not submit TO be so treated
Everybody who understands the resoutc character
Of Mr.. O'l}rcn and who knows what prison rules
are. knows that unless Mr. Balfour eats his
words and declines the challenge a fearful strug
Gle must take place. which may have even fatal
ending. The governor of the Jail has referred the
question to the Castle. and they have referred il
to Mr.. Bafour. who is away in England and who
up 10 this evening has not sent reply.
What happens when the prison rules are carried
out is this Tie prisoner is stripped naked in
the presence Of the governor and infinitely cx-
amined. lie is then made to take bath. his own
clothes are taken from him. and he is given "A
striped uniform 10 PUT on. This is the first stage,
and Mr. O'Brien declares that this stage he will
resist to the death. He has no objection 20 going
through all the sufcrincs and privations of his
imprisonment but he will submit 10 no indig
mites He will do no mcna Offices such
cmptying slopS and he will not associate with
the thieves and pcl,poclScts in the exercise yard
They will have literally 10 tear his clothes from
his back, and then he will remain naked and die
of the cold sooner than put on the prison dress.
, 4, L., .,.,lf, lali
cncc a prisoner is liable to instant punishment
in the dark cells. These are holes absolutely
devoid OF light and cut off from the heat supply
Of the prison. Here prisoner may be locked
up for any lcriOl from twenfy-four hours 10
week at time with no food but bread and
water. no bed bat q plank, and 10 bed clothes
whatsoever. To-day one Of these hideous places Of
torture was occupied by female prisoner serving
out thtcc-day sentence, woman whose offence
was thai She afflicted with hyst"ria have
seldom cXpcri,nc,d any ything more painful than
the Indifference with which the prison chaplain
told us Of this. old man Of anti natiOnal
procivitics whom over twenty years Of prison
service has, | am sorry TO thinll. rendered as
calOus AS wardcr. She broke looking glass
and tore her clothcs.7 sass hc. "TLcy do give a
great deal Of trouble. these dcmcnt"d Creatures,
when they get into their fits"
This is the sort OF thing they must be prepared
to put Mr.. Olricn through If thev INSIST on carry
iig ont the prison rules. Mr.. OBIIcn today Occu-
ped a cell IN the Icmotcst wing Of the strong
prison. which i, butt ike mcil@val fortress, with
long ba; .enentcd walls. portculils and doublctow-
cred gate, aud which. standing on rising ground.
looks against the sky uncJmmOny like Giant
B.undcrbOre's castle in the picture booAs, Ii Is a
comfortable cell enough as cells go-vcry mar
row, with plank bed on one side aud
no table Here Mr.. OBrien with great
contcntmcnt and philosophy reads n prayer
book and Bible, the only books allowed
him. lie had difficulty in obtaining the Bible,
as, curious to say, it not included IN the prison
library.
1t should be borne III mind in all this business
that this is the first time since the Fcnan leaders
were sent to penal servitudc for treason fconyihc
crime invented to degrade John Mitchcl-that
attempt has been made to treat political prisoners
like criminals Mr. Forster, although he locked up
some thousand men. did not do so. His suspects
wore their own clothes supplied their own diet
and mingled in each others company III the jails
without any stamp Of degradation or indgniy be-
ing put upOn them l. 4. OIlI, NJ T.
HUGHEs-HALLETT KISSED AT BANQUET